Improvement in shoes



SAM UEL C. CROWE. Shoes.

Patented April 30,1872.

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SAMUEL U. CROWE, OF CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,190, dated April 30, 1872.

plan of the upper, showing its form when eut out.

The upper of a shoe, as ordinarily made, consists of a vamp and two quarters,77 which construction necessitates three seams, two in front and one at the heel of the shoe. These seams are objectionable, as theyhurt the foot, and are also liable to rip, while considerable time is required to fit and sew the pieces together; and furthermore, the upperj when made of pieces seamed together, especially if composed of cloth, is extremelyr liable to stretch out of shape.

My invention has for its object to overcome these objections; and consists in a shoe having its upper formed of a single piece, so cut as to require no seam whatever, whereby I am enabled to reduce the cost of manufacture, and at the same time produce a more durable7 better fitting, and easier shoe than has heretofore been made.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing, A, Figs. land 2, represents the upper, which may be of cloth, canvas, leather, or other suitable material, and is cut out in the form seen in Fig. 2. To give this upper A its desired form, previous t0 applying the sole, it is first doubled over on the line a b the rear portion is then doubled over on the line c d, which brings the edge e f close up to the edge g h, as seen in Fig. l. Inside of these edges are placed the eyelets t', through which passes the lacing k. The lower end of the opening thus formed is made tight to exclude water by a piece, l, Fig. 2, of leather, or

other suitable material, which is sewed firmly across it. Instead ofthe edges of the opening at the side of the shoe being drawn together by lacing, as shown, they may be secured by 011e or more buckles or other fastenin gs 5 or an elastic gore may be inserted at this point, if preferred.

It will thus be seen that the upper A has no seam whatever, and consequently a shoe made as above described is not liable to rip, and will not hurt the foot; furthermore, the upper7 can be cut out very quickly, as it is in a single piece, and the shoe can also be made more quickly than an ordinary shoe, as the labor heretofore required to handle, fit, and sew together the several pieces of the upper 7 is avoided, and a considerable saving is thus effected in the cost of manufacture. My improved shoe is also very easy to the foot, and will not stretch out of shape to so great an eX- tent as a shoe having its upper composed of several pieces.

Claim.

Witness my hand this llthday of March,

S. G. CROWE.

In presence ofv N. W. STEARNS, W. J. CAnnsRIDGE. 

